Triboelectricity-based electrolysis system

Abstract

A triboelectricity-based electrolysis system includes a housing unit, a triboelectric generator and an electrolysis device. The housing unit includes an outer housing having an inner surface, and an inner housing disposed in the outer housing. The triboelectric generator is mounted on the inner surface of the outer housing, and includes first and second friction components that contact and slide against each other to generate electricity, and a conducting unit that is connected to the first friction component. The electrolysis device is disposed in the inner housing, is connected to the conducting unit of the triboelectric generator for receiving the electricity generated by the triboelectric generator, and includes first and second electrodes that perform electrolysis using the electricity thus received.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to Taiwanese Invention Patent Application No. 114105306, filed on Feb. 13, 2025, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.FIELD

[0002] The disclosure relates to a triboelectricity-based electrolysis system.BACKGROUND

[0003] Chinese Patent Publication Number CN116926589A discloses a high-energy-efficiency friction nano-generator driven full-water-splitting system that includes a friction nanometer generator and a full water splitting system.

[0004] The friction nanometer generator is a pulse type friction nanometer generator. The friction nanometer generator includes a power supply management circuit. The power supply management circuit includes a capacitor, an inductor, a diode and an energy collection chip.

[0005] The full water splitting system is a two-electrode system. The two-electrode system includes an electrolyte that is a KOH solution, a cathode that is a platinum (Pt) wire, and an anode that is a β-Ni(OH)2 / NF catalyst.

[0006] The friction nanometer generator collects mechanical energy, converts the mechanical energy into electric energy, utilizes the power management circuit to manage the electric energy, and outputs the electricity thus managed to the full water splitting system for driving the cathode of the full water splitting system to produce hydrogen and for driving the anode of the full water splitting system to produce oxygen.SUMMARY

[0007] Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a triboelectricity-based electrolysis system.

[0008] According to the disclosure, the triboelectricity-based electrolysis system includes a housing unit, a triboelectric generator and an electrolysis device.

[0009] The housing unit includes an outer housing and an inner housing. The outer housing has an inner surface. The inner housing is disposed in the outer housing.

[0010] The triboelectric generator is mounted on the inner surface of the outer housing. The triboelectric generator includes a first friction component, a second friction component and a conducting unit. The first friction component and the second friction component are configured to contact and to slide against each other to generate electricity. The conducting unit is electrically connected to the first friction component.

[0011] The electrolysis device is disposed in the inner housing, is electrically connected to the conducting unit of the triboelectric generator for receiving the electricity generated by the triboelectric generator, and includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are configured to perform electrolysis using the electricity thus received.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment(s) with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that various features may not be drawn to scale.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a triboelectricity-based electrolysis system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the triboelectricity-based electrolysis system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of a triboelectricity-based electrolysis system according to the disclosure is illustrated. The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system is configured to perform electrolysis on an electrolyte solution (e.g., to perform electrolysis on seawater to produce hydrogen gas, but is not limited thereto). The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system includes a housing unit 1, a triboelectric generator 2 and an electrolysis device 3.

[0017] The housing unit 1 includes an outer housing 11 and an inner housing 12. The outer housing 11 substantially has a spherical shape. The outer housing 11 has an inner surface. The inner housing 12 is disposed in the outer housing 11. The inner housing 12 substantially has a spherical shape. The inner housing 12 defines an interior space.

[0018] The housing unit 1 further includes two pipes 13 that are spaced apart from each other. Each of the pipes 13 extends through the outer housing 11 and the inner housing 12, and is adapted to enable spatial communication between outside of the outer housing 11 and the interior space. One of the pipes 13 is for enabling an electrolyte solution (e.g., seawater) to flow from the outside of the outer housing 11 therethrough into the interior space, and another of the pipes 13 is for enabling gas (e.g., hydrogen gas) produced from the electrolysis in the interior space to be discharged from the inner housing 12. The gas discharged from the inner housing 12 may be expelled to the outside of the outer housing 11, or may be collected by a container (not shown) connected to the another of the pipes 13, but is not limited thereto.

[0019] The triboelectric generator 2 is mounted on the inner surface of the outer housing 11. The triboelectric generator 2 includes a first friction component 21 and a second friction component 22 that are configured to contact and to slide against each other to generate electricity. It is worthy of note that the electricity thus generated is alternating current (AC). The first friction component 21 is made of polyimide. The second friction component 22 is made of nylon. However, materials respectively of the first friction component 21 and the second friction component 22 are not limited to the disclosure herein and may vary in other embodiments, as long as an electronegativity of material of the first friction component 21 is different from an electronegativity of material of the second friction component 22. It is worthy of note that the greater the difference between the electronegativity of the material of the first friction component 21 and the electronegativity of the material of the second friction component 22, the greater the electrical energy generated by the first friction component 21 and the second friction component 22. The first friction component 21 is in a form of a film. The second friction component 22 is a ball that is configured to roll on the first friction component 21. After the first friction component 21 and the second friction component 22 slide against each other, the first friction component 21 may carry positive electric charges on an surface of the first friction component 21 and the second friction component 22 may carry negative electric charges on an surface of the second friction component 22. It should be noted that a number of the second friction component 22 is not limited to the disclosure herein, and may vary in other embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the triboelectric generator 2 includes a plurality of (e.g., two, three, four, or more) second friction components 22 each of which is a ball.

[0020] The triboelectric generator 2 further includes a conducting unit 23 that is electrically connected to the first friction component 21. The conducting unit 23 includes two conducting plates 231. The conducting plates 231 are disposed on the inner surface of the outer housing 11 and are spaced apart from each other. The first friction component 21 is electrically connected to the conducting plates 231 of the conducting unit 23. Each of the conducting plates 231 is an aluminum foil tape, but is not limited thereto and may be made of any conductor.

[0021] The electrolysis device 3 is disposed in the inner housing 12. The electrolysis device 3 is electrically connected to the conducting unit 23 of the triboelectric generator 2 for receiving the electricity generated by the triboelectric generator 2. The electrolysis device 3 includes a first electrode 31 and a second electrode 32 that are configured to perform electrolysis using the electricity thus received from the triboelectric generator 2. Each of the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 32 is chosen according to an electrolyte solution on which electrolysis is to be performed. For example, in a scenario where electrolysis is to be performed on seawater for producing hydrogen gas, the first electrode 31 is implemented to be a platinum electrode, and the second electrode 32 is implemented to be a nickel foam electrode with a phosphoric metal organic framework, which is produced by nickel, cobalt and terephthalic acid as an organic ligand, which serves as a catalyst for enhancing efficiency of producing hydrogen gas from electrolysis of seawater, and which reduces erosion of the second electrode 32 caused by seawater. Since choosing of the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 32 has been well known to one skilled in the relevant art (e.g., electrochemistry), detailed explanation of the same is omitted herein for the sake of brevity. In some embodiments, the electrolysis device 3 further includes a reference electrode (not shown), and the reference electrode may be made of silver (Ag) or silver chloride (AgCl), but is not limited thereto.

[0022] In one embodiment, the triboelectricity-based electrolysis system further includes a rectification circuit 4. The rectification circuit 4 is electrically connected between the triboelectric generator 2 and the electrolysis device 3. The rectification circuit 4 is configured to receive the electricity from the triboelectric generator 2, to rectify the electricity generated by the triboelectric generator 2 (i.e., to convert the electricity from AC into direct current, DC), and to transmit the electricity thus rectified to the electrolysis device 3. The rectification circuit 4 may be implemented to be a bridge rectifier, but is not limited thereto.

[0023] When the triboelectricity-based electrolysis system is utilized to perform electrolysis on seawater to produce hydrogen gas, because of the substantially spherical shape of the outer housing 11, the outer housing 11 is likely to move with ocean waves to generate energy, and then the energy is converted into kinetic energy of the second friction component 22 for rolling on the first friction component 21 to generate electricity. Resonance occurs when a frequency of the ocean waves is substantially the same as a frequency of movements of the second friction component 22, and therefore the triboelectric generator 2 generates greater electricity.

[0024] In sum, for the triboelectricity-based electrolysis system according to the disclosure, the housing unit 1 is utilized to integrate the triboelectric generator 2 and the electrolysis device 3, so as to enable the electrolysis device 3 to receive electricity generated by the triboelectric generator 2 and to use the electricity thus received to perform electrolysis.

[0025] In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment(s). It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,”“an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects; such does not mean that every one of these features needs to be practiced with the presence of all the other features. In other words, in any described embodiment, when implementation of one or more features or specific details does not affect implementation of another one or more features or specific details, said one or more features may be singled out and practiced alone without said another one or more features or specific details. It should be further noted that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be practiced together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure.

[0026] While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is(are) considered the exemplary embodiment(s), it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s) but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0015]Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.

[0016]Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of a triboelectricity-based electrolysis system according to the disclosure is illustrated. The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system is configured to perform electrolysis on an electrolyte solution (e.g., to perform electrolysis on seawater to produce hydrogen gas, but is not limited thereto). The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system includes a housing unit 1, a triboelectric generator 2 and an electrolysis device 3.

[0017]The housing unit 1 includes an outer housing 11 and an inner housing 12. The outer housing 11 substantially has a spherical shape. The outer housing 11 has an inner surface. The inner housing 12 is d...

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to Taiwanese Invention Patent Application No. 114105306, filed on Feb. 13, 2025, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.FIELD

[0002] The disclosure relates to a triboelectricity-based electrolysis system.BACKGROUND

[0003] Chinese Patent Publication Number CN116926589A discloses a high-energy-efficiency friction nano-generator driven full-water-splitting system that includes a friction nanometer generator and a full water splitting system.

[0004] The friction nanometer generator is a pulse type friction nanometer generator. The friction nanometer generator includes a power supply management circuit. The power supply management circuit includes a capacitor, an inductor, a diode and an energy collection chip.

[0005] The full water splitting system is a two-electrode system. The two-electrode system includes an electrolyte that is a KOH solution, a cathode that is a platinum (Pt) wire, and an anode that is a β-Ni(OH)2 / NF catalyst.

[0006] The friction nanometer generator collects mechanical energy, converts the mechanical energy into electric energy, utilizes the power management circuit to manage the electric energy, and outputs the electricity thus managed to the full water splitting system for driving the cathode of the full water splitting system to produce hydrogen and for driving the anode of the full water splitting system to produce oxygen.SUMMARY

[0007] Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a triboelectricity-based electrolysis system.

[0008] According to the disclosure, the triboelectricity-based electrolysis system includes a housing unit, a triboelectric generator and an electrolysis device.

[0009] The housing unit includes an outer housing and an inner housing. The outer housing has an inner surface. The inner housing is disposed in the outer housing.

[0010] The triboelectric generator is mounted on the inner surface of the outer housing. The triboelectric generator includes a first friction component, a second friction component and a conducting unit. The first friction component and the second friction component are configured to contact and to slide against each other to generate electricity. The conducting unit is electrically connected to the first friction component.

[0011] The electrolysis device is disposed in the inner housing, is electrically connected to the conducting unit of the triboelectric generator for receiving the electricity generated by the triboelectric generator, and includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are configured to perform electrolysis using the electricity thus received.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment(s) with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that various features may not be drawn to scale.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a triboelectricity-based electrolysis system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the triboelectricity-based electrolysis system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of a triboelectricity-based electrolysis system according to the disclosure is illustrated. The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system is configured to perform electrolysis on an electrolyte solution (e.g., to perform electrolysis on seawater to produce hydrogen gas, but is not limited thereto). The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system includes a housing unit 1, a triboelectric generator 2 and an electrolysis device 3.

[0017] The housing unit 1 includes an outer housing 11 and an inner housing 12. The outer housing 11 substantially has a spherical shape. The outer housing 11 has an inner surface. The inner housing 12 is disposed in the outer housing 11. The inner housing 12 substantially has a spherical shape. The inner housing 12 defines an interior space.

[0018] The housing unit 1 further includes two pipes 13 that are spaced apart from each other. Each of the pipes 13 extends through the outer housing 11 and the inner housing 12, and is adapted to enable spatial communication between outside of the outer housing 11 and the interior space. One of the pipes 13 is for enabling an electrolyte solution (e.g., seawater) to flow from the outside of the outer housing 11 therethrough into the interior space, and another of the pipes 13 is for enabling gas (e.g., hydrogen gas) produced from the electrolysis in the interior space to be discharged from the inner housing 12. The gas discharged from the inner housing 12 may be expelled to the outside of the outer housing 11, or may be collected by a container (not shown) connected to the another of the pipes 13, but is not limited thereto.

[0019] The triboelectric generator 2 is mounted on the inner surface of the outer housing 11. The triboelectric generator 2 includes a first friction component 21 and a second friction component 22 that are configured to contact and to slide against each other to generate electricity. It is worthy of note that the electricity thus generated is alternating current (AC). The first friction component 21 is made of polyimide. The second friction component 22 is made of nylon. However, materials respectively of the first friction component 21 and the second friction component 22 are not limited to the disclosure herein and may vary in other embodiments, as long as an electronegativity of material of the first friction component 21 is different from an electronegativity of material of the second friction component 22. It is worthy of note that the greater the difference between the electronegativity of the material of the first friction component 21 and the electronegativity of the material of the second friction component 22, the greater the electrical energy generated by the first friction component 21 and the second friction component 22. The first friction component 21 is in a form of a film. The second friction component 22 is a ball that is configured to roll on the first friction component 21. After the first friction component 21 and the second friction component 22 slide against each other, the first friction component 21 may carry positive electric charges on an surface of the first friction component 21 and the second friction component 22 may carry negative electric charges on an surface of the second friction component 22. It should be noted that a number of the second friction component 22 is not limited to the disclosure herein, and may vary in other embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the triboelectric generator 2 includes a plurality of (e.g., two, three, four, or more) second friction components 22 each of which is a ball.

[0020] The triboelectric generator 2 further includes a conducting unit 23 that is electrically connected to the first friction component 21. The conducting unit 23 includes two conducting plates 231. The conducting plates 231 are disposed on the inner surface of the outer housing 11 and are spaced apart from each other. The first friction component 21 is electrically connected to the conducting plates 231 of the conducting unit 23. Each of the conducting plates 231 is an aluminum foil tape, but is not limited thereto and may be made of any conductor.

[0021] The electrolysis device 3 is disposed in the inner housing 12. The electrolysis device 3 is electrically connected to the conducting unit 23 of the triboelectric generator 2 for receiving the electricity generated by the triboelectric generator 2. The electrolysis device 3 includes a first electrode 31 and a second electrode 32 that are configured to perform electrolysis using the electricity thus received from the triboelectric generator 2. Each of the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 32 is chosen according to an electrolyte solution on which electrolysis is to be performed. For example, in a scenario where electrolysis is to be performed on seawater for producing hydrogen gas, the first electrode 31 is implemented to be a platinum electrode, and the second electrode 32 is implemented to be a nickel foam electrode with a phosphoric metal organic framework, which is produced by nickel, cobalt and terephthalic acid as an organic ligand, which serves as a catalyst for enhancing efficiency of producing hydrogen gas from electrolysis of seawater, and which reduces erosion of the second electrode 32 caused by seawater. Since choosing of the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 32 has been well known to one skilled in the relevant art (e.g., electrochemistry), detailed explanation of the same is omitted herein for the sake of brevity. In some embodiments, the electrolysis device 3 further includes a reference electrode (not shown), and the reference electrode may be made of silver (Ag) or silver chloride (AgCl), but is not limited thereto.

[0022] In one embodiment, the triboelectricity-based electrolysis system further includes a rectification circuit 4. The rectification circuit 4 is electrically connected between the triboelectric generator 2 and the electrolysis device 3. The rectification circuit 4 is configured to receive the electricity from the triboelectric generator 2, to rectify the electricity generated by the triboelectric generator 2 (i.e., to convert the electricity from AC into direct current, DC), and to transmit the electricity thus rectified to the electrolysis device 3. The rectification circuit 4 may be implemented to be a bridge rectifier, but is not limited thereto.

[0023] When the triboelectricity-based electrolysis system is utilized to perform electrolysis on seawater to produce hydrogen gas, because of the substantially spherical shape of the outer housing 11, the outer housing 11 is likely to move with ocean waves to generate energy, and then the energy is converted into kinetic energy of the second friction component 22 for rolling on the first friction component 21 to generate electricity. Resonance occurs when a frequency of the ocean waves is substantially the same as a frequency of movements of the second friction component 22, and therefore the triboelectric generator 2 generates greater electricity.

[0024] In sum, for the triboelectricity-based electrolysis system according to the disclosure, the housing unit 1 is utilized to integrate the triboelectric generator 2 and the electrolysis device 3, so as to enable the electrolysis device 3 to receive electricity generated by the triboelectric generator 2 and to use the electricity thus received to perform electrolysis.

[0025] In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment(s). It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,”“an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects; such does not mean that every one of these features needs to be practiced with the presence of all the other features. In other words, in any described embodiment, when implementation of one or more features or specific details does not affect implementation of another one or more features or specific details, said one or more features may be singled out and practiced alone without said another one or more features or specific details. It should be further noted that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be practiced together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure.

[0026] While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is(are) considered the exemplary embodiment(s), it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s) but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0015]Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.

[0016]Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of a triboelectricity-based electrolysis system according to the disclosure is illustrated. The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system is configured to perform electrolysis on an electrolyte solution (e.g., to perform electrolysis on seawater to produce hydrogen gas, but is not limited thereto). The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system includes a housing unit 1, a triboelectric generator 2 and an electrolysis device 3.

[0017]The housing unit 1 includes an outer housing 11 and an inner housing 12. The outer housing 11 substantially has a spherical shape. The outer housing 11 has an inner surface. The inner housing 12 is d...

Claims

1. A triboelectricity-based electrolysis system, comprising:a housing unit includingan outer housing that has an inner surface, andan inner housing that is disposed in said outer housing;a triboelectric generator mounted on said inner surface of said outer housing, and includinga first friction component and a second friction component that are configured to contact and to slide against each other to generate electricity, anda conducting unit that is electrically connected to said first friction component; andan electrolysis device disposed in said inner housing, electrically connected to said conducting unit of said triboelectric generator for receiving the electricity generated by said triboelectric generator, and including a first electrode and a second electrode that are configured to perform electrolysis using the electricity thus received.

2. The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a rectification circuit electrically connected between said triboelectric generator and said electrolysis device, and configured to receive the electricity from said triboelectric generator, to rectify the electricity generated by said triboelectric generator, and to transmit the electricity thus rectified to said electrolysis device.

3. The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer housing substantially has a spherical shape.

4. The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner housing substantially has a spherical shape.

5. The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conducting unit includes two conducting plates that are disposed on said inner surface of said outer housing and that are spaced apart from each other.

6. The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first friction component is in a form of a film, and is electrically connected to said conducting plates of said conducting unit.

7. The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first friction component is made of polyimide.

8. The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second friction component is a ball that is configured to roll on said first friction component.

9. The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second friction component is made of nylon.

10. The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second friction component is a ball that is configured to roll on said first friction component.

11. The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first friction component is a film made of polyimide, and said second friction component is a ball that is made of nylon and that is configured to roll on said first friction component.

12. The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:said inner housing defines an interior space;said housing unit further includes two pipes that are spaced apart from each other; andeach of said pipes extends through said outer housing and said inner housing, and is adapted to enable spatial communication between outside of said outer housing and the interior space.

13. The triboelectricity-based electrolysis system as claimed in claim 12, wherein one of said pipes is for enabling an electrolyte solution to flow from the outside of said outer housing therethrough into the interior space, and another of said pipes is for enabling gas produced from the electrolysis in the interior space to be discharged from said inner housing.

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